Ore concentrator



R. LE ROY. ORE CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. l92\.

Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

Iii/Euros 806E121 LE ROY R. LE ROY.

ORE CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. 1921.

45 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\; INVENTOR Easier LEROY,

ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORE CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed June 27, 1922.

Application filed April 15, 1921. Serial No. 461,501.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT Ln For, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Basin, in the county of Jefferson and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Ore Concentrator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to an ore concentrator, and has particular reference to roclv ing concentrators.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby a concentrator trough is rocked by a suitable power mechanism to produce a highly efficient concentration of the ores with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

Another object resides in the provision of means whereby the rocking of the trough is cushioned by suitable means in each direction of motion of the trough.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby the concentrates can be very simply and efficiently removed.

A still further object resides in the provision of power means and transmision devices whereby the operation of the trough can be effected with a minimum expenditure of power. 7

In general, my invention comprises a concentrator trough which has a curved cross section and a bottom which is inclined downwardly toward the disch arge end. The width of the concentrator from one end to the discharge end also increases. This concentrator is mounted on suitable bearings and adapted to be rocked by suitable power-crank connections. In its rocking motion in one direction and another, resilient cushioning means are provided whereby the concentrator is returned to its normal position with a minimum expenditure of power on the part of the actuating mechanism.

A further feature resides in a plurality of guiding or funnel blades which are associated with one of the discharge outlets so as to facilitate the collection of floating concentrate and its uidance into the discharge outlet. Other features of the invention will appear as they are set forth in the following description and claims and shown in the drawings.

The invention is illustrated in the drawin of whichigure 1 is a plan view of the concentrator;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof;

Figure 3 is an end view ofthe concentrator;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section of an outlet or discharge valve.

The preferred embodiment of my invention, as shown in the drawings, comprises a concentrator trough which is adapted to be supported on a suitable base. This base is. as shown, preferably in the form of a rectangular frame comprising beams 1, 2 and 3 which at one end support a platform such as 4. At the other end. the frame supports transversely extending joists or beams 5 and 6. On the ends of the beams 5 and 6 a pair of pulleys 7 connected to a shaft 7' are suitably mounted. Extending longitudinally of the frame and above the same is a concentrator trough 8 made of any suitable metallic material. This trough has a curved cross section and an inclined bottom 9 which inclines downwardly from the left end to the right or discharge end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper edges of the open end of the trough are provided with reinforcing strips such as 10 and 11. Intermediate its length each of these strips is offset at 12 and 13 to provide a passage for bearing rods 14 and 15. These rods or bars 14 and 15 are circular in shape and are firmly gripped between the body of the trough 8 and the strips 10 and 11 to hold and support the trough. The lower portions of these bearing bars are slightly spaced away from and encircle the under-surface of the trough and are adapted to bear on a plurality of idle rollers such as 16 which are disposed as indicated on the base frame. The bearing bars may be, in some other suitable fashion, connected throughout their lower length with the nnder face or under surface of the trough 8, if desired. Plates such as 17 and 18 close the ends of the trough. In the plate 18 a discharge pipe 19 is suitably disposed. This pipe 19 is connected to a air of fan-shaped blades 20 which extend t erefrom in opposite directions, as shown, and are fastened as at 22 and 23 to the inner surface of the trough. These blades, during the rockin of the trough, serve, as hereinafter indicate as guiding means for the concentrate which may float on the surface of the fluid within the trough.

A water inlet pipe 24 is suitably disposed 4 through the pl ate 18and has on its inner water flows into the trough 8.

of the stem 31.

end a perforated portion 25 through which Adjacent the lower portion of the plate 18 is disposed an outlet discharge valve plug 26 connected by suitable pipe such as 27 to the lowest level of the liquid in the concentrator trough 8. This valve plug is provided with a valve seat 28 adapted to receive a valve 29 which, on the side adjacent the trough, is provided with a stirring stem 30 and on the other side with a stem 31 the outer end of which, 32, is threaded to receive a hand wheel 33. The outer end 32 is provided with a turning bar 34. A spring 35 connects the hand wheel with a stationary lug 36 on the pipe 27. A sleeve 35', of any suitable material such as rubber, is provided between the hand wheel 33 and the end of the plug 26 to provide a cushion therebetween. When the turning bar 34 is turned to rotate the stem 31 within the hand wheel 33, the valve 29 is unseated or seated in accordance with the movement The construction, however, is such as to permit the hand wheel to be moved to the right together with the stem 31 and the valve 29. This movement is for the purpose of moving the end of the stem 30 to agitate any material which may have settled in the bottom of the trough adjacent the opening in pipe 27. This agitation is for the purpose of permitting the concentrate here located to flow out through the discharge pipe 37.

The, power shaft 7 is connected by a crank arm 38 with a connecting rod 39. At its other end this rod is connected to an adjustable block 40. This plug is adapted to be adjusted within a groove 40 located in a rocking bar 41. This rocking bar extends across the top of the concentrator trough 8 and-is connected along a. portion of its lower edge to a plate 42. This plate 42, at its end, is turned down and suitably connected, as by riveting, to the inner surface of the trough 8. The move ment, therefore. of the power shaft through the crank mechanism just described will cause the oscillation or rocking of the trough 8. At the discharge end of the trough or concentrator, adjacent the upper opposite edges, I have provided perpendicularly disposed parallel plates 43 between which are disposed sloping tail or sluice gates such as 44 to provide for the overflow of suitable portions of the contents of the trough, as desired. A flanged connecfion bar such as 45 is applied to the parallel surface of the rocking bar 41 and at its other end, such as 46, is connected to a shaft 46' extending across a part of a yoke frame. This yoke frame comprises parallel plates 47 between the ends of which shafts such as 48 and 49 extend. These .will be disposed adjacent the outlet shafts 48 and 49 receive the endsof springs such as 50 and 51, the other ends of which are suitably and fixedly fastened as at 52 and 53 to the base frame of the apparatus. These springs 50 and 51 are disposed on either side of the mid portion of the trough 8 to cushion the rocking motion thereof in either direction and to tend to restore the trough to normal at the end of each oscillation.

Thematerial, such as ore, to be treated is placed in the trough and suitable liquid is introduced through the pipe 24 and under a desired pressure to cause the proper amount of circulation. Power is then applied to rock the trough through the crank mechanism above mentioned, whereupon the trough is rocked on the bearing rods 14 and 15 which roll on the idler rollers such as 16 above mentioned. As this rocking takes place. the settling out of the desired constituents slowly takes place. Certain of the material will float on the surface, and in this floating action it will be observed that the fan-shaped blades 20 and 21, disposed near the discharge end of the trough, will oscillate back and forth alternatelv above and below the surface of the liquid. In this way they will intermittently and more or less constantly interpose a barrier between the tail or sluice gates 44 and the floating material and will tend to guide this material into the discharge pipe 19. Those portions of the treated material which settle to the bottom of the trough, due to the inclination thereof, will move down toward the lower discharge end and ipe 27. The lower outlet mechanism, described in connection with Fig. 5, can then be operated in the manner described to permit of the discharge of this material therefrom.

By reason of the inclination of the bottom of the trough. and by the extension of its width from the front to the rear end, it will be observed that the smallest volume of liquid in the trough will be at the end furthest from the discharge and that the agitation at this smaller end is more violent than the agitation taking place at the other end, which is the discharge end. This is more favorable to the operation of the device,

since near the discharge end it is not deing means connected to the trough and the frame to cushion the movement of the trough in either direction and restore the trough to normal at the end of each rocking stroke.

2. A concentrator apparatus comprisinga base or support, a plurality of rollers on said support, a concentrator trough. a plurality of curved bearing rods disposed around saidtrough at intervals. said bear ing rods adapted to rest on the idle rollers, power means, connections between the trough and power means to rock the trough, and a pair of springs disposed on opposite sides of the trough. one end of each spring connected to the base frame and the other end of each spring connected to the trough to cushion the movement thereof and restore the same to normal.

3. A concentrator which comprises a trough to be oscillated or rocked, a rocking bar fastened to and extending across the top of the trough. one end of the bar extending beyond the edge of the trough and having a slot therein, a sliding block disposed in said slot, means for tightening the block in the slot as desired, a power shaft, and linkage between the block and the power shaft whereby the motion of the shaft will rock the trough in a predetermined manner.

4. A concentrator which comprises a trough. a base frame on which said trough is mounted, curved bearing rods disposed on said trough at intervals throughout its length. a plurality of rollers disposed on the base to receive the bearing rods where-- by the oscillation of the trough can be effected, a pair of cushioning springs connected at one end to the base frame, a yoke frame disposed above the trough. the upper end of each of the cushioning springs being connected to the yoke frame. and a flanged bar connected to the trough and pivoted to said frame. said spring affording cushioning means for the trough as it oscillates in one direction and another.

-5. A concentrator which comprises a trough to be oscillated. a rocker bar extending across the upper edge of the trough, means connected to the rocker bar for oscillating the same. a pair of cushioning springs fixed at one end to a suitable support, a yoke frame disposed above the trough and connectcd to the other ends of the springs and a connection between the yoke frame and the rocker bar whereb the motion of the rocker bar and the trough is cushioned by the spring.

ROBERT LE ROY. 

